Warren County Community College’s Alpha Upsilon Rho was recently designated with the highest recognition possible by Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society for community colleges, as a Five Star Status Chapter. The chapter was awarded this designation at the 2018 Middle States Regional Conference as a result of several major achievements over the past two years. Chapter officers organized and engaged in many various activities including developing a College Project-a week long C4 College Completion event on campus, collaborating with 2 other Middle States chapters for a Paterson Playground Build, coordinating numerous community centered drives on campus in conjunction with various college student groups, and completing an Academic Scholarly Research Project based on PTK’s 2017 Topic, How the World Works: Global Perspectives. 

During this time PTK members in the chapter received the following Regional Awards at the Middle States Regional Conference: the Chapter Milestone Award, Middle States Gold Chapter Award, Distinguished Chapter Member Award, two Hall of Fame Officer Awards, a Distinguished Chapter Award, and Paragon Chapter Advisor Award. In addition, the chapter was honored as a Reach Rewards Chapter for exceeding recruitment. On the International Level, WCCC President Dr. William Austin was selected to receive the Phi Theta Kappa Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction based on the Chapter’s nomination.

PTK student president Dorothy Helmken was named a 2017 Coca Cola Leader of Promise Scholar, 2018 New Century Transfer Pathways Scholar, and selected for the 2018 NJ All State NJ Academic Team. Matt Miller was also selected for the All-Academic Team. In the photo, left to right, are this past year’s Chapter officers, Dorothy Helmken, PTK President, and Officers Jordan Croom, Krista Cooper, Michelle Bodyl, Arleen Molina, and Austin Lombardozzi.